Gaining a heart of wisdom
For a family with four sons, close in age like little stairsteps, it seems impossible to fly under the radar. In restaurants, other customers would approach our table with compliments about boys who ate salad or boys who managed themselves politely. We may have heard more than our share of admonitions to "enjoy this stage… Continue reading How Your Imperfect Family Can Make an Eternal Impact
A beat-up black three-ring binder holds the record of 35 gardening years. I turn to it every spring because it remembers where the tomatoes grew last summer. It reminds me of the serendipitous genius of planting the peas next to the fence—a ready-made trellis! It helps me to foil the ravenous beetles by keeping me… Continue reading Life in the Garden on Your Bit of Earth
Reading the Proverbs always feels like drinking from a fire hose. Wisdom comes flying at the reader in quick succession, and no matter how hard I try, I can't stop looking for an outline or some connection between the flood of consecutive aphorisms and metaphors. Of course, in the big picture, it's all connected to… Continue reading Watch Your Words: Speak with Wisdom and Live Well
This morning, the fall colors called me outside for a walk, and, as usual, I ended up in the garden—even though the only living things that remain are the zinnias and the dahlias. I'm cheering the dahlias on in their race against the frost. The buds are there, but having planted them in a spot… Continue reading Fall Gardening in Maine and Other Extreme Acts of Faith
"Every story that ends in service for Christ started in grace."1 The words were inscribed in my journal with no attribution, but I had been studying Romans 1:7: To all who are in Rome, beloved of God, called to be saints:Grace to you and peace from God our Father and the Lord Jesus Christ." "Grace and peace" always… Continue reading Grace and Peace in an Election Year?
The calendar and the brisk morning air have agreed that summer is over and autumn has arrived. It was time for me to get on the same page and decorate for fall. Understand that this is not a huge production here in this minimalist's life, but I do like a few sunflowers, a few pumpkins,… Continue reading Overcome Frustration with Gratitude and Action
“My son, do not forget my law,But let your heart keep my commands;For length of days and long lifeAnd peace they will add to you.” (Proverbs 3:1, 2) Obedience from the heart is the first evidence of belonging. We don’t remember God’s laws and keep his commandments in order to become God’s children. We obey… Continue reading How Do I Show My Love for God?
Have you ever spent time dreaming about the perfect church? We've all heard the old saying that even if you are fortunate enough to find the perfect church, you will surely ruin it when you join. (Did you know this came originally from Spurgeon?) Of course, all this insight doesn’t stop us from fantasizing about… Continue reading What Does It Really Mean to Be “Saved”?
In a fit of sleep-deprived stubbornness, one day I just stopped reading the Bible. I certainly still believed in God, because I told him quite directly that I had no intention of reading his recycled words. It seemed to me that the prophets and apostles had no idea what it was like to bear and… Continue reading How to Stay Motivated and Excited About Reading the Bible
I can hardly stand to watch my oldest granddaughter eating an ice cream cone. It's almost as if she forgets that it's in her hand, so before you know it, she's holding it horizontally, even gesturing with it, while pink ice cream drips on her shoes. Reminders are useless. "Honey, eat your ice cream" may… Continue reading Build a Strong Foundation by Hearing and Doing
Living Our Days 